Sleep quality after endoscopic sinus surgery in patients with sinonasal polyposis

Evaluate the effect of functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) for nasal polyposis on sleep efficiency and polysomnographic parameters.

This clinical trial was conducted on 15 patients with bilateral massive sinonasal polyposis who underwent FESS between August 2012 and September 2013. All participants were evaluated subjectively by employing the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire and objectively (provided by polysomnographic parameters) before and 2 months after surgery.

The evaluation of subjective criteria of sleep quality assessed by PSQI showed significant improvement, particularly in nocturnal awakening (P = 0.002). However, Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI) was not reduced significantly after surgery (P = 0.233). Among patients who had suffered from obstructive sleep apnea, AHI was improved in 7 patients, deteriorated in 3 patients, and did not change in 1 patient. Although the mean duration of REM sleep stage increased from 15.2 ± 10.7 to 18.9 ± 7.9, this change was not statistically significant. Furthermore, arousal index decreased dramatically from 31.6 to 17.1 (P = 0.02) and sleep efficiency index was improved after the surgery (P = 0.008).

This study documented the effect of resuming nasal cavity patency on improvement of sleep efficiency after FESS. In spite of insignificant effect of FESS on apnea index, alteration of other sleep parameters like arousal index following surgery may have a positive effect on sleep quality.